Tomlinson takes inaugural women’s title
By SEAN REUTHE
World Junior Championship runner-up Youssef Soliman and England’s Millie Tomlinson emerged victorious in the Jersey Squash Classic, PSA M5 & W5 tournaments after claiming respective wins over Michael Harris and Hania El Hammamy in their final fixtures.
Soliman, the current World No.126, has been in sensational form of late, with two consecutive PSA World Tour title wins leading into this tournament and he maintained his blistering momentum with straight wins over wildcard Matthew Sidaway, Ondrej Uherka and top seed Matthew Hopkin to reach the final.
Harris, meanwhile, was unseeded coming into the event, but showcased his title-challenging credentials from the outset after upsetting fellow Englishman and second seed Ashley Davies. Subsequent victories over Sam Ellis and Rui Soares then saw him advance to the final where he was pitted against the in-form Soliman.
Soliman always had the slight edge as the 19-year-old’s mobility and short game caused Harris problems.
He pulled away from the middle of the first game, quickly established a winning lead in the second, and recovered from 7-4 down to take the third game and the title, courtesy of an 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 victory.
“I am really thrilled to win another PSA title,” said Soliman. “It hasn’t been easy, we both had some really tough matches to get to the final. I think I played well and put him under pressure but he was dealing with it well so I was glad to be able to win that in three. I have one more tournament to go, in Kent, so I hope to finish the season with another good performance and maybe a win.
“It’s been a really good week, well organised and I’ve enjoyed my stay in Jersey.”
The inaugural Women’s tournament was won by Tomlinson (right) after she managed a straight games win against 15-year-old Egyptian El Hammamy.
World No.47 Tomlinson was aiming for back-to-back PSA World Tour titles after winning last month’s GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open and she took a crucial one-game lead by a narrow 11-9 margin to seize the early initiative.
She kept up the pressure in the second and third games as she accelerated to an 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 triumph in 37 minutes to become the first ever Women’s Jersey Classic champion and claim a seventh career PSA World Tour title.
“It’s always tough playing Egyptians these days,” said Tomlinson.
“It was a good match though, it was really tough to keep ahead of her. Thanks to everyone for their support.”
Jersey Classic 2016, PSA M5 and W5, Jersey Squash and Racketball Club, St Clement, Jersey
Men’s Final:
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Michael Harris (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (40m)
Semi-finals:
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [1] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 11-6, 11-7, 3-11, 10-12, 11-1 (74m)
Michael Harris (ENG) bt [3] Rui Soares (POR) 11-6, 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6 (53m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bt Yuri Farneti (ITA) 11-3, 8-11, 15-13, 3-11, 11-7 (52m)
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [8] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 12-10 (57m)
[3] Rui Soares (POR) bt [7] Nick Mulvey (ENG) 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 (63m)
Michael Harris (ENG) bt [Q] Sam Ellis (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (35m)
1st round:
[1] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bt [Q] Connor Sheen (ENG) 7-11, 11-5, 11-0, 11-1 (30m)
Yuri Farneti (ITA) bt [6] Micah Franklin (BER) 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 12-10 (80m)
[8] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) bt Robert Dadds (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (33m)
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [WC] Matthew Sidaway (ENG) 11-6, 14-12, 11-3 (41m)
[3] Rui Soares (POR) bt [Q] James Peach (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 13-15, 3-11, 11-8 (53m)
[7] Nick Mulvey (ENG) bt [Q] Oliviero Ventrice (ITA) 12-10, 13-11, 7-11, 11-5 (42m)
[Q] Sam Ellis (ENG) bt [5] Tristan Eysele (RSA) 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (63m)
Michael Harris (ENG) bt [2] Ashley Davies (ENG) 11-8, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)
Qualifying finals:
Oliviero Ventrice (ITA) bt Bradley Masters (ENG) 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10 (78m)
Sam Ellis (ENG) bt Ahmad Al-Mudhaf (KUW) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (22m)
James Peach (ENG) bt Roshan Bharos (NED) 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5 (72m)
Connor Sheen (ENG) bt Gary Nisbet (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (23m)
Women’s Final:
[1] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt [2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (37m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt [Q] Laura Pomportes (FRA) 11-6, 11-2, 11-2 (26m)
[2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [3] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (21m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt [Q] Rachael Chadwick (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 12-10 (29m)
[Q] Laura Pomportes (FRA) bt [4] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (35m)
[3] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt [7] Nadia Pfister (SUI) 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (27m)
[2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Eleanor Epke (NZL) 11-9, 10-12, 11-1, 11-8 (32m)
1st round:
[1] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt [Q] Nia Davies (WAL) 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 (15m)
[Q] Rachael Chadwick (ENG) bt [5] Alison Thomson (ENG) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (28m)
[Q] Laura Pomportes (FRA) bt [8] Moana Gray (AUS) 11-1, 11-2, 11-1 (12m)
[4] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [LL] Sarah Mekhalfi (FRA) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (18m)
[3] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Leonie Holt (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (24m)
[7] Nadia Pfister (SUI) bt [Q] Julie Rossignol (FRA) 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 (41m)
Eleanor Epke (NZL) bt [6] Jessica Davis (ENG) 11-6, 9-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8 (53m)
[2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [WC] Beth Garton (ENG) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 (17m)
Qualifying finals:
Julie Rossignol (FRA) bt Sarah Mekhalfi (FRA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (20m)
Nia Davies (WAL) bt Elise Romba (FRA) 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11 (42m)
Laura Pomportes (FRA) bt Emma Custance Baker (ENG) 11-0, 11-3, 11-3 (12m)
Rachael Chadwick (ENG) bt Eva Feřteková (CZE) 11-6, 11-0, 11-6 (19m)
Pictures courtesy of Jersey Classic and PSA